4. Eli

The laughter of the audience was music to Eli's ears as he watched Peter speak confidently and with the great charisma that actually made him accept the job, first as a campaign manager and then as chief of staff.

Of course, it would have been better if Alicia were there too; her presence always boosted the certainty in Peter's voice, and the public actually loved her – democrats and republicans. It was short of a miracle, really, and if she were just a bit more willing to be involved in her husband's political scene, they could become a force to be reckoned with.

But, of course, nothing in his life was actually easy or even made easier by the people around him, especially the ones he cared about. His ex-wife, with the Bin Laden affair – and it didn't matter it was a long-lost cousin, thank you very much – and her own campaign; his own daughter with her last idea to go to Israel, which was surely a way to ruffle his feathers and make him lose years of his life in worry just thinking about it; Peter, with the way he always found the way to surround himself with attractive women and with a mother who was as nosy as they come, and obviously, Alicia. Alicia, with her standing next to her husband and then having an affair with her boss, with the way she made him move his business to Lockhart/Gardner and then left, starting her own firm, with her dragging her feet and fighting him teeth and nails to just an interview, please and then smashing it like a pro.

"Illinois only works if we can put aside our..."

The vibration on his phone made him look away from Peter to see who was calling. It was Diane Lockhart. Eli rejected the call without a second thought.

"... together, everybody. I mean, it's really..."

Another call, Diane again. Eli remembered something about a partners' meeting or whatever, but now was not the time for the firm politics. He rejected the call again and started to compose a message to warn her not to call, when another call came through, and his finger swiped to answer automatically.

"Diane, I'm at the Chicago Correspondents Club with the Governor, can it wait?" he said, without attempting to conceal his irritation, and glancing worriedly at Peter, who was still speaking.

"...and that's what I plan..."

"Alicia is in the hospital, Eli."

Everything froze. The words kept coming, something like "shot" and "court" and "critical", but part of it was lost in the buzzing sound on his mind and he looked again at Peter, who was finishing his speech and he had to get him out of there. They had to get out of there.

"Now if you excuse me, I need to go to find out..."

The next few minutes went in a blur, he nearly forgot he hadn't stop the phone call and luckily he got to get the rest of the information out of Diane, letting him also give Peter a moment of privacy. A sharp sob made him close the call abruptly, and Eli spun on himself just in time to catch an unsteady Peter by the arm, trying to make him lean on himself, and steering his body, through the doors, and to the waiting car, careful on not been seen in this moment of rightful weakness.

The ride in the car felt unreal, and Eli couldn't tear his gaze away from Peter, hands pressed against his face, struggling to regain some composure.

"I need to call my kids," Peter whispered, his fingers nearly fumbling with his phone. Just as he was about to dial the last digits he stopped, his expression a mix of bewilderment and vulnerability, making him look younger than he was. "I should call Veronica first, and my mother, and Owen..." he mumbled to himself, realizing the urgency of the situation. "The kids shouldn't be alone right now."

It was overwhelming witnessing a grown man, the governor of Illinois, struggling for thoughts and words, trying to prioritize something that could not, in good conscience, be prioritized. If Eli had any doubt before – and he didn't, mind you – that he was just another heartless politician, he would have the proof now that Peter Florrick was just a man, put before an impossible choice.

Whom should you call first? Your children? You mother-in-law? His mother or her brother? There were no easy choices.

"Call Veronica," Eli instructed, choosing to take charge and make the choice for Peter. If Peter second-guessed it later, if something happened.. No, no. Intrusive thoughts. First the hospital – to know what was actually happening. And then... No. He couldn't dwell on hypotheticals.

It was better for Peter if he could direct any blame towards Eli and not, how it often happened, on himself.

"Tell her to go to the kids, contact Owen, and then wait for Jackie. Let them know to meet us at the hospital, together. I'll get in touch with Jackie," Eli declared, trying to convene as much confidence as he could. Peter looked at him, surprise clearly on his face, as if he'd momentarily forgotten Eli was even there in the car. However, he complied.

Despite decades of working as a crisis manager and five years working with the Florricks, nothing could have prepared him for the kind of conversation that he was about to face now. He still pressed the green button on his phone.

"Oh, Eli! What a pleasant surprise! I was just talking to Cristiàn abou-" Jackie's voice was always proper, delivered with an icy demeanor that left no room for ambiguity at all about how she felt about him. But it wasn't time for small talk or pleasantries.

"Jackie, I need you to listen to me," Eli said, with his best no-nonsense tone. It always ensured the other party on the line would shut up, and it didn't fail this time either.

"Alicia has been shot in court. She's at the hospital." He heard an audible gasp and continued, before she could start asking question.

"We don't have any details yet. Peter and I are on our way to the hospital right now, and I need you, we need you to go get the children. Veronica should be on her way to Alicia's house as well. Come here as soon as you're able." Eli hesitated for a moment, glanced at Peter who was still talking to his mother-in-law, then added in his most firm tone, hating himself a bit for having to.

"Don't talk to anyone, especially the press." Only silence answered him for a few seconds and he wondered if he was imagining the judgment in it.

"Of course. I'm going now. Send the name of the hospital to my phone. And..." she hesitated, sighed and continued with a trembling voice "... the moment you have an update, let me, us, know. Please."

He was just about to respond – perhaps an 'Of course' or something as unhelpful – when she ended the call.

He also heard Peter end his own call, looking devastated, and for a brief moment, Eli felt something similar resonating within him. Eli shook himself. There would be time to let his own worry and feelings out, but it was not the moment yet.

After what felt like hours, they finally pulled up at the entrance oh the Chicago General. Peter was already out of the car before the engine stopped, with Eli was closely behind, leaving the bodyguards scrambling to catch up and shout at them. Neither Peter nor Eli, paid them any mind and pressed on.

The hospital was, as was the norm for a big city hospital, extremely chaotic. Nurses and doctors moved from bed to bed, patients' family and visitors were waiting anxiously, some standing and some sitting on the uncomfortable-looking plastic chairs. All of them exuded tension and worry.

Eli followed Peter to the nurse's desk, scanning the room and noticing that more than a few people had recognized them, and he feared that the press would probably be there in little to no time. He hoped that the kids, Veronica, and Jackie would arrive before the media circus began.

Eli was so lost in his thoughts that almost missed the nurse speaking to Peter.

"...currently in surgery. She was shot twice, once in the chest, once in the stomach. Mr. Governor, your wife lost a significant amount of blood, and the situation is very critical." Eli felt Peter swaying, as if his legs were failing to support him. Eli promptly, yet subtly, provided physical support.

"We have to wait for the surgery to finish to get more information. I'm sorry," the nurse continued, sounding genuinely apologetic. Eli thanked the nurse on behalf of Peter, who was in no condition to do so, and practically guided him towards an available chairs.

"Call Jackie, let her and the kids know," Eli reminded him, and nodded to the bodyguards who had finally caught up with them and were now clearing the area immediately around them.

In that moment, he spotted the figures of someone approaching, and for a brief second, before recognizing them – and wasn't that a testament on how out sorts he actually was? – he was filled with anger at their audacity. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"How's she?" Diane asked, closely followed by Kalinda. They both looked visibly worn, and it was clear they were anxiously waiting for news. He shook his head, knowing he shouldn't and couldn't sugarcoat this.

"She's still in surgery. She experienced a major blood loss, and the doctors are being cautious before making any judgments."

Diane put a hand over her mouth, and Kalinda was just about to say something when a loud cry interrupted them.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Peter's call ended just in time for him to spot Will Gardner at the entrance doors.